After a recommendation by some close friends of ours, we decided to take a hike on the Bull Hill loop trail. It was a crisp 37 degree morning and we were ready. We had hiked a similar trail the week before nearby, one requiring climbing, scrambling, and dragging yourself on all fours up the side of a mountain. So after that, we knew we could handle whatever this hike brought our way. And let me tell you, it was beautiful.

We started off going up a decent incline on a rock laden trail. The frigid air burning your nostrils and lungs. After a few minutes, your body warms up from having to use every muscle in your body, including ones you may not have known existed, and you get to enjoy the beauty and quiet.

Now this hike takes place about a week after all the leaves have fallen off the trees. If you want to observe the changing of the leaves, you’ll want to go no later than the first or second week of November depending on the climate that year. However, be prepared to brace yourself for tons of other eager hikers on the trails and the roads (it gets a bit crowded for our liking) during this time of year.

However, don’t let this stop you because with the leaves off the trees, you’ll be able to enjoy views of the Hudson River and the neighboring mountains that would be obstructed when the leaves are on the trees. As long as you’re not afraid of heights, the views just give you a sense of awe and freedom. You feel as though you’re on top of the world and as if things just are moving slower. You can see the people, cars, train and more all moving about their daily lives as most of us do. Yet, when up the trail a ways, you get to stop at several lookouts (basically just big rocks you can walk up) and just feel as though there is no rush.

A few things to consider is that we found the trails at this time of year a bit more treacherous. All I mean by that is, as mentioned before, most of the trail is lined by rocks and stones that on a normal day can give the bottoms of your feet a pounding. With all the leaves having just fallen, one’s ability to see those rocks becomes impaired and one will want to take extra care with each footstep so as not to trip or twist anything. Plus, we went just after a snowfall and parts of the path were sheets of ice and going off path into the deeper snow was the safest route.

Due to the conditions we took the short loop that day and look forward to taking the full loop at another time. Depending on which loop you take, you’re looking at about 2-5 hours of hiking impacted by on conditions and speed of walking.

Regardless of which loop you take (short or full), you will end up passing the ruins of the Cornish Estate who had purchased around 650 acres at the time from a diamond merchant. Unfortunately, most of the mansion was destroyed in a fire in the late 1950s and only stone and brick walls and arches are left. We couldn’t help but discuss what he house might have looked like in its glory days. The stone and tile give some glimpses of what was once there.

We highly recommend this hike to anyone who loves the outdoors and is up for a bit of a challenge.

-Chris & Ola